# 8
### Chapter Eight
Diana changed into her reception dress.
As soon as she saw Harold waiting outside the door, her shoulders shrunk involuntarily. The memory of her spontaneously kissing him during the ceremony came back to her mind. She wasn't embarrassed or shy; Rather, she was afraid of the rebuke that might come from him.
“Let's go, Diana.”
"Yes."
...Oh, won't he scold me for kissing him earlier?
Diana glanced at him several times before her previously hunched shoulders relaxed.
“Congratulations on your wedding, Your Highnesses The Duke and Duchess. I wish you all the blessings for your future.”
“Thank you, Viscount.”
They exchanged courtesies with the nobles present at the reception. The nobles could not hide their amazement as they watched Diana and Harold.
Why wouldn't they be surprised? The couple was holding hands—bare hands, no gloves.
“Is the Duke really holding the Duchess’s bare hand…?”
"Oh my God! Did they really overcome everything with love? How romantic."
However, not all reactions were positive.
“M-Congratulations on your marriage, D-Duchess...”
Those who had previously crossed paths with Diana and endured her wrath were now trembling in her presence, their faces pale with fear.
“Thank you, Viscountess Handel.”
Viscountess Handel had once commented on how well Kayden and Ella fit together, a picture-perfect pair. In response, Diana tore out her hair.
Diana smiled warmly at the trembling Viscountess as if to assure her that there was no need to be afraid. But this seemed to have the opposite effect, causing the Viscountess to make a hasty escape.
'Huh… Diana, you've really left quite a reputation.'
Once again, Diana faced the weight of "Evil Diana's" past actions.
As she sighed inwardly, she noticed a familiar figure with messy brown hair approaching and furrowed her brow.
“To think that the infamous Duchess would be my sister.”
He was Vincent Garcia, Viscount, and Diana's half-brother. He was the legitimate son of the Duke's first wife, while Diana was an illegitimate child born of a casual relationship with a maid.
Vincent also appeared in 'The Noblewoman Captures the Heart of the Young Master', where he had secret feelings for the heroine Ella and played the role of a protective older brother.
In that story, he had humiliated Diana on Ella's behalf.
"Congratulations on your wedding, Duke. But how did you end up with someone like Diana? You must have a stronger stomach than I thought."
Vincent smiled wryly, pointing towards Diana with his wine glass.
“Or does she at least have some impressive skills in bed?”
'Ah, is that something you're saying about your own blood and flesh?'
Diana furrowed her brow, her stomach churning in disgust.
“Viscount Vincent, this comment goes too far.”
“Duchess, why the serious face? It’s just a family joke.”
Vincent scoffed, glancing at Harold.
“Brothers are supposed to prank their little sisters. Duke, I hope you don’t take my joke seriously.”
“Ah, yes. Family jokes. I understand.”
“Haha! As expected of a Duke, you are much more rational than my sister.”
While Diana was wondering why Harold was tolerating Vincent's behavior, Harold suddenly intertwined his fingers with hers.
“My wife is beautiful when she smiles, and her boldness is even more impressive when she jokes with me. Every day seems new with her. I can talk endlessly about her charm.”
Harold smiled as if he were troubled by the fact that there was not enough time to list all her virtues.
'Wow...what an amazing act this is.'
Diana was inwardly impressed. His look, so full of affection, was so convincing that it almost made her believe that he truly loved her—which of course was not true.
“Dear Diana also has a strong stomach, considering she managed to live for years in the same house with someone who constantly spewed filth.”
Vincent's face flushed with anger.
“What…what did you just say?”
"Hmm? Why the trouble? It was just a family joke, wasn't it?"
Harold's wry smile deepened.
Diana felt a wave of satisfaction wash over her as she watched Vincent, unable to respond, simmer in silence.
I remembered again the sharp intelligence of Harold, who in the novel easily defeated the villain. Now that she was on the same side, she felt strangely at ease.
“…I’ll be leaving then. Have a happy honeymoon.”
Vincent backed away, unable to find a response against Harold. Then he approached Ella, smiling warmly like the caring older brother he pretended to be.
'What a broken family...'
Diana began to truly understand why Diana always felt so uncomfortable. While she wasn't completely innocent, it's no surprise that the knight who saved her, Kayden, looked like a prince from a fairy tale on a white horse to her.
As she tried to shift her focus, she noticed Kayden standing next to the heroine, Ella. Their eyes crossed.
She expected him to look away uncomfortably, but Kayden continued to stare at her. It was Diana who finally averted her gaze.
...to meet the eyes of Harold, who had been watching her the whole time.
“You scared me...!”
“Sorry. For a moment, I thought my wife was about to cheat on me right in front of me.”
“Treason? Impossible. I saw a huge mosquito flying around us.”
“In that case, I will have the servants spray pesticides all over the property soon.”
He took out his pocket watch and checked the time.
“It's almost time for us to leave.”
When the time comes, the couple retire to their room, and the reception is over.
“Well, I'm tired, so that's good.”
The two smiled as they exited the hall elegantly.
Meanwhile, Kayden couldn't take his eyes off the retreating Diana.
“...Kayden?”
He didn't even hear Ella's voice calling him.
* * *
The Duchess's rooms were far more luxurious than any guest room.
After I was bathed and dressed in a nightgown by the maids, I wrapped a shawl around my shoulders.
“You may now proceed to the matrimonial room, ma'am.”
In the Empire, personal space was highly valued, so the couple's personal rooms were separate from the shared marital room.
I walked down the softly lit hallway, with candles flickering faintly in the distance.
“Yawn… I just want to go and sleep,” Diana muttered to herself, feeling the weight of exhaustion weighing on her mind. While her divine strength prevented her legs from swelling, it did not erase the mental exhaustion. She quickened her steps, eager to collapse into bed.
“Diana.”
...huh? Did I hear that right?
“Diana.”
She turned around, realizing she couldn't have misheard twice.
She saw Caiden, the Prince of Basin, standing there.
“…Prince Kaiden, why are you here?”
The reception had ended, and it was impossible for someone of his rank to simply be wandering around lost.
Before you could fully process the situation, he spoke again.
“Did you marry my brother for money? I will give you what you need. Just leave here immediately.”
"…What?" Diana blinked in disbelief. “Why are you saying this to me?”
Surprised, Diana stared at him in disbelief, but Kayden just stuttered for a reason.
By mentioning money, Kayden seemed to know something about Amanda's deal with Harold.
However, his sudden visit and strange behavior made no sense.
Oh, could it be…?
“Are you worried that I will continue to bother you after marriage?” She asked, thinking of Kayden's previous struggles with Diana's obsession. If they were to be intertwined with family ties, he might fear her continued obsession. But Kayden's reaction was strange.
“…Yes, that is.”
The muscles in his face seemed to relax, as if a burden he didn't quite understand had been lifted.
"You avoided my gaze earlier, and acted like you didn't care, all to get my attention, right? Your tactics are painfully obvious, Diana."
Kayden's voice was dripping with arrogance as he ran a hand through his hair.
“Diana, I would never choose you. You are not the kind of woman who belongs by my side.”
“…”
“So stop wasting your time. I offer you a lot of money, just take it and leave.”
He extended his hand, as if he expected her to accept the deal he was proposing enthusiastically.
“I think I should say something first,” she replied.
"What is it?"
"I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused. Imposing unwanted feelings on someone is a form of violence, and it took me a very long time to realize that. I will never bother you or make you feel uncomfortable again."
Although she was not personally the one who committed these actions, like Diana, she felt this was an apology she should make.
“How can I believe it? You’re in love with me.”
“Not anymore.”
“…Not anymore?”
"Yes."
Diana's voice was steady, hoping he believed her sincerity.
“I no longer love you, Prince Kaiden.”
For some reason, his face tightened as if he was choking on something.